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Category Archives: Security

As we say goodbye to 2014, we look ahead to the New Year and its anticipated innovations. In 2014 we saw the rise of marketing automation and big data. While I anticipate similar trends next year, there are three that stick out.

Security
With the recent Sony hack, I predict that security will be top of mind for companies and governmental organizations. Whether being attacked for political or financial gain, the vulnerabilities are the same. Cyber security firms will likely have a busy 2015, equipping against and monitoring for impending attacks. Organizations will also need to step up their internal processes, educating their employees so they don’t inadvertently put their company’s systems at risk. It’s not a matter of if there will be future hacks, it’s when.

Collaboration
Technology giants are not going at it alone. More and more are partnering to create innovations. Apple and IBM announced they are joining forces to make intuitive enterprise software apps. IBM also teamed up with Cisco recently to offer VersaStack, an integrated infrastructure bundle that pairs IBM storage with Cisco servers. I expect more collaborations such as these to be announced in the coming months.

WearablesFitbits were a popular gift item this holiday season which leads to the rise of wearable technology next year. Apple Watch is sure to stir frenzy when it is released in early 2015. And more devices from other competitors are sure to follow. But these devices will heavily depend on apps so the marriage of mobile and wearables is one that will be strengthened as their popularity rises.

What continues to hold true is that with these trends and emerging technologies, companies will be investing in people. So if you are looking for a new career path or the next step in your career, being aware of the trends and the companies that lead will keep you ahead of the pack!

I’m looking forward to seeing how these trends play out in 2015. What do you think we’ll see next year?

Last month, we talked about some buzz worthy technologies including big data, cloud, business intelligence and mobility. This month, we’re continuing our tech talk with some more high-tech sectors that are seeing tremendous growth. Here’s what you need to know:

Marketing Automation
Marketing automation is huge. More and more companies are gaining momentum and fighting tooth and nail for a piece of the pie. Stand-alone technologies such as Marketo and HubSpot have become commonplace within overworked marketing departments. Even large marketing logistics providers are offering solutions that automate the process.

The idea here is to do more with less. Moving campaign management to a single dashboard takes the busy work out of the equation, allowing teams to be more streamlined and strategic. Marketing automation also allows for more targeted communication and performance tracking.

Life Sciences
Life sciences can be applied to anything from pharmaceuticals to the food industry. And you don’t necessarily have to be a traditional scientist to break into this field. From management to sales and technology, there is a wealth of opportunities.

In Massachusetts, the industry is exploding. A 2013 report by the Boston Foundation found the state’s life sciences industry growing at a faster pace than any other­ industry. And with GE moving their Healthcare Life Sciences headquarters to the Commonwealth early next year, more jobs are expected to follow.

Security
With networks being hacked and databases expanding faster than ever before, IT security professionals are in high demand. In fact, the industry is growing at a rate of 24 percent every year, according to Forbes.

The need expands beyond software and computing firms. Think of industries like healthcare and financial, where sensitive data is constantly being collected. IT executive Shan Fowler tells TechRepublic that security is important to “every company, regardless of industry…because technology touches every aspect of an organization.”